Carlos Tavares, CEO of Stellantis, was the guest of 8:30 a.m. franceinfo on Tuesday, October 10, 2022. Fuel, electric cars, batteries, employment, Chinese competition, salaries… He answers questions from Marc Fauvelle and Salhia Brakhlia.
Fuel crisis: “Demonstration of the importance of the automobile” for the French
Carlos Tavares felt that the long queues at gas stations are a “demonstration by the absurd of the importance of the automobile in ensuring the freedom of movement of our citizens”. According to him, the “fellow citizens are very attached to their freedom of movement”.
DIRECT. Strike: “There will be requisitions as much as necessary” in the refineries, assures Olivier Véran
This Tuesday, around 30% of service stations are affected by fuel shortages due to the strike at Total refineries.
Electric cars: They will be cheaper “in 2026”
Electric cars will be cheaper than thermal vehicles “in 2026”, according to forecasts by Carlos Tavares. As demand increases, “there will be a scale effect, which we will pass on to the customer”, he said. But Stellantis boss warns the price will stay “volatile”since it is dependent on the price of raw materials.
Battery autonomy: “600 km of autonomy” in “2-3 years”
Carlos Tavares claims that the electric cars produced by the brands of the Stellantis group “will exceed 600 km of autonomy and some beyond 700 km of autonomy” In the coming years. “This technological challenge is already mastered and the cars are already being industrialized, so you will soon see them within 2 or 3 years”he announces.
Chinese competition: the EU “rolled out a red carpet in front of Chinese manufacturers”
Carlos Tavares accuses “the European Union” having “rolled out a red carpet in front of Chinese manufacturers”. According to him, “The European Union offers Chinese manufacturers conditions for competition which are much more favorable in Europe than they are favorable for Western manufacturers on the Chinese market”. “There is no reciprocity of competition conditions and therefore the fight is going to be very, very tough”he warns. “We will only stay in China as long as we make a profit there”he adds.
Job cuts: “It’s a risk that must be considered”
Carlos Tavares points out the risk of all-electric for employment: “It is a risk that must be considered. Chinese competition, in particular, will have possible effects on employment: “If we don’t make the batteries on our soil, especially in Europe and France, we run the risk of exporting 100% of the added value of the vehicle outside our borders”, he said. “It depends on the efforts needed to ensure the affordability of electric vehicles”, he explains. “The question is delicate. It’s going to take a lot of imagination.”he warns.
“There is no reason to continue to increase the barriers to car use”
“We have an accumulation of obstacles to the use of the automobile in our country which is striking”, denounces Carlos Tavares. He mentions in particular “all the taxes that weigh on the automobile today” and “limits of use of the automobile”. In the future, “as long as the car is safe, clean and affordable, there is no reason to continue to increase the barriers to car use”, he said. For the boss of Stellantis, the “The contrast between these obstacles on one side and the passion that the French have for their cars is striking.”
Lack of semiconductors: the situation restored “not before the end of 2023”
Due to lack of semiconductors in the global market, “It has been very difficult for us to increase production in volume over the past few months. The situation is improving, but very slowly”says Carlos Tavares. “We have had great difficulty in restoring the capacities that are necessary to meet the demand of our customers”, he explains. The situation “will be restored at the end of 2023, but not before the end of 2023”he continues.
Electric car rental at 100 euros per month: “It’s quite possible”
The rental of the electric car at 100 euros, “it is entirely possible, with a joint effort by the State and the manufacturers”, assures Carlos Tavares. The government is currently working on this flagship measure of Emmanuel Macron’s campaign. “100 euros per month is accessible. There will probably be a basic contribution which will be relatively modest. It will not be something that will put the middle classes in difficulty a priori”he points out. “Of course”the device will be done with French cars, he assured.
Remuneration of big bosses: “This is a question that is only asked in France”
Carlos Tavares receives a remuneration of 19 million euros per year. Emmanuel Macron had judged her in April “excessive” and “shocking”. The boss of Stellantis explained that “90% of this salary is indexed to the result of the company. If the result was bad, I would receive 10% of the amount”he says, adding that the question of salary, is “a question that is only asked in France”he points out.
Wage increase: “It’s normal that there is a sharing of wealth”
The CGT is asking TotalEnergies for a salary increase in view of the group’s significant results: “It is normal that there is a sharing of wealth. This is completely legitimate”, says Carlos Tavares. He recalls that an agreement has been reached with the social partners at Stellantis for an increase in income. The CGT for its part denounces the use of bonuses which are not sustainable: “When I go to the baker and pay for my bread, the baker does not sort between the euro which comes from the bonus and the euro which comes from the basic salary”replies the boss of Stellantis.
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Find the entire “8:30 am franceinfo” of Tuesday, October 18, 2022: